Comments on: Why Today’s Populist Uprising Could Be Great for Progressives

By: sunshine

sunshine — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 04:39:11 +0000

I read in “Fast Food Nation” that when GM first started mass selling, they bought up all the electric trollys in a city in Ca. and then got rid of them so people had to buy a car. And they also got the govt to pay to build roads to drive their cars on with tax dollars. Corporate welfare, I am so sick of it. It’s time to investigate where our tax dollars go. It’s time to investigate companies that are subsidized with tax dollars to see if they need financial help. Surly, while Halliburton is making billions in profit, then they are too profitable to get tax dollars. The country can’t afford it any longer. We also need to tax mega churches and stop all these non profit organizations that politicians use to hide from paying taxes. It’s just unAmerican. I wouldn’t be surprised if 1/4 or more companies in the US are tagged “nonprofit” and escaping paying taxes. Lets make it a campaign issue. The right wants to get rid of programs that give dollars to the poor or disabled but yet still want to subsidize mega corporations. Also, CEO’s get paid too much. Like Michael Moore said, we need to pay as much attention to the CEO’s of the large corporations as we do politicians.

By: Knut

Knut — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:42:30 +0000

I think the massive demonstrations of the late 60s were counterproductive, as contrasted with the extremely disciplined civil rights demonstrations and sit-ins of the early 60s. I was there, and saw the difference. The late 60s demonstrations against the war were more emotional, less disciplined, and less instrumental. I think they may have delayed the turning of American opinion against the war. On the other hand, they were a good place to pick up women. I suppose there’s an upside to everything if you look for it.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:32:15 +0000

Is it populism or just the awareness that we are circling the drain?

By: LS

LS — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:28:23 +0000

I’ve been watching the Media Reform conference, and it has just been fantastic!! Great job!

By: David Sirota

David Sirota — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:19:36 +0000

It’s been positive – I think people realize something’s going on in a big way.

By: David Sirota

David Sirota — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:18:44 +0000

It’s a good question – and one my book tries to look at. The uprising is a state between disengaged chaos and a full-fledged movement. Getting that anger – that uprising – into a movement is the central challenge of the moment.

By: dakine01

dakine01 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:18:15 +0000

Well, with all due respect, according to wiki, the author of that article, Campbell Brown, was born in June ‘68.

Somehow, I don’t think having her look at some old news tapes and photos for a few hours is really going to give her a full sense of what things were like in ‘68.

There are some superficial similarities between the two election years but only superficial.

As always, YMMV.

By: David Sirota

David Sirota — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:17:39 +0000

Thanks!

By: Blub

Blub — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:11:21 +0000

On this meme, interesting CNN article.. ‘08 is like ‘68

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITI.....index.html

By: perris

perris — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:56:39 +0000

It may be naive on my part, but Chaney has long been on record that his goal is to “restore” powers to the Presidency that he felt had been abrogated by the Congress after H2Ogate and that those powers should be available regardless of the party holding the office

I believe this is indeed naive

I do not for one moment believe Chaney wants a democrat to have this power at their disposal, not for one moment, and don’t forget, long before Nixon lost office and power Chaney forged data to try to perpetuate unending war with Russia

no, this is not ideology this is the thirst for power